Madhya Pradesh BJP plans protest over coal short-supply

BHOPAL - The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Madhya Pradesh would stage a “Koyela (coal) Satyagrah” from Dec 13 against the alleged short-supply of coal to the state by the central government, a party representative said Thursday.

“From Dec 13, we would hold coal dispatch to outside states. First, we will do it in Shahdol (district) and then in Baitul (district),” BJP state president Prabhat Jha said.

Jha claimed that to generate adequate power, the state needed 15 lakh tonnes coal annually but it was only getting 13.7 lakh tonnes from the central government.

Congress state president Suresh Pachouri said during the tenure of BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) central government, the state got 11 lakh tonnes coal but now it was getting 13.7 lakh tonnes coal.

“The electricity department has said power generation is not being affected because of coal (shortage),” said Pachouri.

Last month, the BJP held a demonstration against the central government over alleged poor condition of national highways in the state.